Meet with us: http://talkwithjlp.com

📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com

Nothing will mess with your financial confidence faster than comparing your savings to your brother, your coworkers, or that guy on YouTube who claims he retired at 35. Your retirement number isn’t a competition. Today, Lee talks about what really matters when you’re trying to figure out if you’re behind on your savings goals…and what to do if you actually are. Everyone’s financial story is different. Once you stop comparing and start planning, you’ll know exactly what steps to take next.

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

🔍 Comparison steals joy and creates unnecessary retirement stress

💰 Your retirement number is personal, not a competition

📉 Expenses, not savings, determine how much you truly need

📈 Comparing investment returns is misleading and unhelpful

🛠️ Focus on controllable actions like saving and budgeting

Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithjp.com

Get more financial education at http://myretirementclarity.com

Meet with us: http://talkwithjlp.com

📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com

We've all heard the saying there is no such thing as a bad question, but in retirement planning, some questions are definitely better than others. In this episode, Lee explains the five questions smart investors ask and explains how reframing each one leads to better decisions, stronger strategies, and more confident planning. The smartest investors don’t just look for answers. They learn to ask better questions.

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

📰 Office News: team update and new advisor announcement

💰 How Much Do I Need? Reframing savings into income needs

🏥 Long-Term Care: exploring all coverage options instead of rolling the dice

💸 Fees vs. Value: understanding what you truly get for the price

🧾 Taxes: shifting the conversation from “this year” to lifetime tax savings

📉 Market Fear: building a portfolio that works in every market—not timing the chaos

Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithjp.com

Get more financial education at http://myretirementclarity.com

Meet with us: http://talkwithjlp.com

📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com

Considering marriage in your 50s or 60s? While it's a time for new beginnings and happiness, it can also introduce unique financial challenges. In this episode, Lee shares expert insights on navigating retirement planning when two lives- and two sets of finances- come together. Discover how honest conversations today can strengthen your relationship and ensure your legacy for the future.

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

💍 Remarriage & Retirement: blending lives without merging finances

💬 Financial Transparency: why honesty builds long-term stability

💵 Cash Flow Planning: aligning income and spending in retirement

📊 Separate Accounts: managing assets while planning together

👨‍👩‍👧 Family Balance: protecting children and shared goals

⚖️ Ground Rules: setting expectations before you tie the knot

Check out our upcoming workshops:

https://jlperkinswealth.com/attend-an-event/

Meet with us: http://talkwithjlp.com

📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com

The mail’s here! Today, Lee answers listener questions about life, money, and retirement planning. Each scenario highlights the unique challenges people face as they approach or live through retirement, and the importance of making confident, well-coordinated decisions along the way. Most times, the best advice doesn’t come from Google, it comes from experience, wisdom, and planning.

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

💰 Income Boost: how to handle a sudden increase in earnings

👵 Parents’ Financial Health: addressing concerns and planning for their future

📆 Social Security Choices: deciding when and how to claim benefits

🏡 Vacation Home Dilemma: the pros and cons of buying property with family

Check out our upcoming workshops:

https://jlperkinswealth.com/attend-an-event/

Meet with us: http://talkwithjlp.com

📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com

Think having two financial advisors gives you an edge? Think again. It might sound smart, but splitting your investments often leads to mixed messages, conflicting strategies, and costly mistakes. Today, Lee exposes the hidden dangers of a “too many cooks in the kitchen” approach to money, and why one clear, trusted voice can make all the difference in your financial future.

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

💸 Why People Split Money: common reasons investors divide their assets between firms

🗣️ Coordinating Advice: the challenge of getting everyone on the same page

📊 Returns Race: why chasing short-term performance hurts long-term goals

📉 Investment Overlap: certain strategies can double your risk instead of spreading it

Check out our upcoming workshops:

https://jlperkinswealth.com/attend-an-event/

Meet with us: http://talkwithjlp.com

📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com

The mailbag is open! In this episode, Lee tackles real-world listener questions that hit on some of the most common dilemmas retirees face. First up: should you buy that RV with debt, or withdraw from your IRA and take the tax hit? Then, how do you know if a life insurance “investment” pitch is a smart opportunity or just a sales tactic to avoid?

Next, Lee addresses a common concern: what should you do with a large 401(k) balance when you don’t fully understand investing? He explains why saving is great, but strategy is essential. He also breaks down when it makes sense to use a Roth 401(k) option at work. From there, the focus shifts to retirement psychology: what if you’re afraid of running out of money? Do you need to cut back or go back to work? Lee explains why neither is ideal and what to do instead. Finally, we hear from a listener who received a surprise inheritance and wants to know how to navigate IRAs, stocks, and property the right way.

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

🚐 RV dilemmas – buy with debt or tap your IRA?

🛡️ Life insurance sales – smart questions to ask before saying yes

📊 401(k) reality check – saving isn’t enough without a strategy

🔄 Roth 401(k) choices – when shifting contributions makes sense

💸 Running out of money – how to calm the fear of going back to work

🏡 Getting a surprise inheritance – how to manage it wisely

Check out our upcoming workshops:

https://jlperkinswealth.com/attend-an-event/

Meet with us: http://talkwithjlp.com

📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com

Well, you’re retired. Now what? Some people follow the “first year rule,” believing the majority of your best retirement months will happen in those first twelve. But if you don’t approach this season with intentionality, you could set the wrong tone emotionally and financially. In this episode, Lee shares the five essential steps every new retiree should take during year one.

You’ll hear real stories and practical advice, like how to stay healthy, find purpose, and even test-drive big lifestyle changes before making them permanent. The habits, routines, and choices you make early in retirement will echo through the years ahead. Be intentional now, and you’ll set yourself up for a retirement that’s not only financially sustainable but also deeply fulfilling.

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

💸 Adjusting to spending when “every day is Saturday”

📊 Building a tax-smart withdrawal strategy

🎯 Establishing routines and finding purpose beyond hobbies

🏃‍♂️ Prioritizing health and preventative habits early

🚗 Testing driving your long-term plans

Check out our upcoming workshops:

https://jlperkinswealth.com/attend-an-event/

Meet with us: http://talkwithjlp.com

📚 Looking for more financial education? Check out 👉 http://myretirementclarity.com

If your parents or grandparents passed away young, it’s natural to wonder: Should I grab Social Security as early as possible? It sounds simple, but the truth is far more nuanced. In this episode, Lee unpacks why longevity isn’t just about family history. Advances in medicine, modern lifestyles, and the kind of retirement you envision all play a huge role in when (and how) you should claim benefits.

Lee explains what early filing actually does to your benefits, why spousal considerations matter, and how delaying benefits can increase overall lifetime income for you and potentially for a surviving spouse. Instead of making this decision in a vacuum, Lee shows how Social Security fits into your broader financial plan alongside pensions, savings, and other income sources.

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

🧬 Family history vs. actual longevity factors

💵 How delayed credits can boost your benefit

❤️ ‍What happens to Social Security if a spouse passes away first

🔄 Trade-offs of using your own assets vs. claiming early

📊 Using Social Security in a comprehensive plan

Check out our upcoming workshops:

https://jlperkinswealth.com/attend-an-event/